A silver medalist at the South Asian Games, Sidra Sadaf cannot get a job because she suffers from Hepatitis C.

The 18-year-old Pakistani Christian college student was diagnosed with the disease during a check-up prior to the 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh in January.

Sadaf won a silver medal at the Games in the 30 kilometer road team time trial event to make her the country’s first Christian woman cycling champion.

Sadaf told her story at a June 13 reception in Faisalabad organized by Catholic group, Peace through Education and Sports, PTEAS.

“I first started practicing on my father’s simple bicycle in the school playground. Later the cycling association lent me a sports cycle,” she said.

“I also had to cover my face even while riding on empty roads,” she explained.

Later, cycling teammates who were government employees received rewards of 50,000 rupees (US$ 595).

“But now my parents have to trim their budget to pay for my medication,” she lamented.

At the reception, the Punjab Sports Coalition presented her with her first sport cycle while the Diocesan Board of Education gave her an honorary shield.

“Sadaf is a beacon for all of us,” Faisalabad Bishop Coutts later told ucanews.com.

“Many factors led to her success, the most important being harmony and acceptance,” he added.

Bishop Coutts also noted the plight of minority women in Pakistan.

“Even in sport, women must observe the dress code,” he said. “But Sadaf is a surprise and we shall keep encouraging her.”

After prayers for her health, the Deputy Commissioner of Faisalabad announced that government assistance for her recovery.

Sadaf says that her recent experiences have brought her closer to God.

“I felt God’s power working when I received the medal despite my illness”, she said.

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